scholarly journals Scenario-based life-cycle cost assessment to support sustainable investment in rural communal sanitation facilities: the application to a school-based sanitation facility

Author(s):  
N. M. Koseoglu ◽  
R. Ellis ◽  
D. Biswas

Abstract Despite decades of investment in widening access to improved sanitation, much of the world still lacks access to functional sanitation facilities. Through much of the Global South, toilets are inoperable and often abandoned. Failure to understand and account for the whole-life cost of sanitation infrastructure, as well as the interplay between context-specific socio-economic determinants, is one explanation for this reduction in the service life of shared sanitation infrastructure. This issue is especially salient in school-based and communal facilities in middle- to low-income countries. Drawing on a case study of a sanitation facility in a government school in rural south India, we explore the relationship between user value, community-based capacity, and external support in determining the costs of operating and maintaining sanitation facilities over their lifetime. We develop a scenario-based life-cycle cost assessment methodology to examine the relational impact of these determinants on the ‘real’ cost of shared sanitation infrastructure. The analysis concludes that investment and interventions that stimulate demand and enhance the capacity of a community are the most cost-effective options for ensuring the sustainability of sanitation facilities in our case study site. We then reflect on the applicability and limitations of these findings for a wider range of communal sanitation facilities.

Energies ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (4) ◽  
pp. 1172
Author(s):  
Hafiz Haq ◽  
Petri Välisuo ◽  
Seppo Niemi

Industrial symbiosis networks conventionally provide economic and environmental benefits to participating industries. However, most studies have failed to quantify waste management solutions and identify network connections in addition to methodological variation of assessments. This study provides a comprehensive model to conduct sustainable study of industrial symbiosis, which includes identification of network connections, life cycle assessment of materials, economic assessment, and environmental performance using standard guidelines from the literature. Additionally, a case study of industrial symbiosis network from Sodankylä region of Finland is implemented. Results projected an estimated life cycle cost of €115.20 million. The symbiotic environment would save €6.42 million in waste management cost to the business participants in addition to the projected environmental impact of 0.95 million tonne of CO2, 339.80 tonne of CH4, and 18.20 tonne of N2O. The potential of further cost saving with presented optimal assessment in the current architecture is forecast at €0.63 million every year.


2021 ◽  
Vol 96 ◽  
pp. 105173
Author(s):  
Bo Yang ◽  
Yi-Ming Wei ◽  
Lan-Cui Liu ◽  
Yun-Bing Hou ◽  
Kun Zhang ◽  
...  

2019 ◽  
Vol 44 (19) ◽  
pp. 9517-9528 ◽  
Author(s):  
Guangling Zhao ◽  
Eva Ravn Nielsen ◽  
Enrique Troncoso ◽  
Kris Hyde ◽  
Jesús Simón Romeo ◽  
...  

Author(s):  
Maurice Hartey ◽  
Thomas Bodman ◽  
Arlene Korn

Maintenance, especially in a Marine environment, is continuous and costly. Life Cycle Management of a Marine Gas Turbine system encompasses many costs, of which repair parts, labor and equipment downtime associated with failures and maintenance are a significant portion. In fact, people (labor) make up the largest component of overall maintenance costs. Investing in people the largest cost driver to life cycle cost has a direct return in the long run, in terms of maintenance effectiveness and efficiencies. Applying and reinforcing knowledge and skills in a maintenance environment translates to improved reliability outcomes, longer operating time, fewer parts needs, and ultimately costs savings. However, given today’s constrained fiscal environment, the value of spending money for training rather than buying more parts or applying more maintenance, may not appear obvious. Such thinking is short sighted, and ultimately leads to reduced reliability and increased maintenance in the long run. This paper will explore these areas, and recommend how training programs can be effective predictive, proactive and responsive.


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